Today's review is from the book "That Used to Be Us," by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, which examines the challenges facing the United States in the 21st century. The authors argue that America has fallen behind in the world it invented due to a combination of factors, including educational decline, unsustainable deficits, and a lack of political will to address major problems like climate change. The book analyzes these challenges, outlining key areas where America must improve, such as upgrading its education system, reforming its political system, and investing in research and development. The authors call for a renewed focus on American values and a revitalized commitment to the country's traditional formula for success. They propose solutions to restore America's competitive edge and ensure a bright future for the nation.

We use AI to help create our podcast episodes, generating voices and initial scripts. We carefully craft each episode through specific prompting and editing to ensure it offers helpful, accurate insights based on books we've read or books recommended by our listeners. AI allows us to produce consistent, high-quality content more efficiently and frequently so we can focus on delivering valuable discussions to you.

We recognize that everyone will hold their own opinions about the books, authors, and topics we explore in our reviews. Our goal is to provide diverse opinions and viewpoints that contribute to a critical study of the issues being discussed.

Have a book you'd like us to review in our unique podcast style? Drop us a comment, and we’ll check it out!